How many of you have experienced depression in your life?

[Tonya]

I've noticed depression has came up quite a few times at PT. I am just curious of how many people have experienced problems with depression. If you have, what (if any) medications have you been treated with? I understand if you don't feel comfortable responding to this poll, I know this is a fairly personal subject.

Aside from my mother, I really don't know anyone else who has depression. I'd like to know what all is out there to help with it. I have had problems with it most of my life.

[GoldenRetrLuver]

I haven't been depressed latley, which is good. But I was going through some severe depression when two of my close friends past away. One died from CF and one from a heart problem. I seriously thought of ending my life then, but I couldn't because I have 2 dogs who need me.

[slick]

I have, but with all due respect Tonya, I don't feel comfortable enough to talk about it on this forum for the whole world to see. If you wish to correspond by email, please feel free to PM me.

[Tonya]

I totally understand, Slick. It isn't something that I normally talk about. In fact my own parents and almost all of my friends do not know that I deal with depression. I just noticed that more people (then I am used to) have been comfortable enough to mention it on here. Which made me feel (a little) comfortable with bringing it up. I feel a bit embarrassed and wierd talking about it too, but I really want to know more about it.

[CathyBogart]

I have in the past, when I was suffering from OCD and a bad relationship. Brian and I have worked together to get rid of the OCD and most of the depression.

I've only ever taken herbal mood stabilizers, and I've had bad luck with them so far...

[Tonya]

I'm glad to hear you got your OCD under control. My old roomate had that; it can be tough. I sometimes think that Jaden might wind up with it. He has some interesting habits. I guess time will tell.

[mugsy]

I have it, but I feel like I'm on the way back. I can't remember the first med I took, but I took zoloft, effexor, and paxil, but paxil scared the snot out of me after talking to the nurse at the doctor's office. I quit taking it and since then I feel much better. I was beginning to think that the meds were making it WORSE! lol

[TheAntiPam]

Clinical depression (the kind that goes beyond "I'm so depressed that Christina Aguilar colored her hair" ) is more common that most people know. Even some doctors don't take it seriously.

I took prozac for a number of years. For me, I needed the smallest dose made just once a day. A dear friend needed a much higher dose and took it two times a day. Everyone needs to be monitored by a doctor no matter what the drug or amount.

After a couple years of prozac, I tried going off the meds, but I just wasn't ready. I tried two more times, but each time the symptoms came back. Then, I was just ready. I can't say what changed, but it worked.

Being diagnosed and getting proper treatment turned my whole life around. It's brain chemistry, not a personality flaw.

[G.P.girl]

the last few years i've gotten really depressed around november/december. i haven't told anybody although it got really bad last year. i can feel it coming back already, but maybe not as bad as last year, because i'm in a different imviorment where i don't feel like such a failure. but i guess i'll just have to wait and see how bad it gets.

[binka_nugget]

I'm okay with talking about it now. I was never diagnosed or anything by anyone because I never went to get help. It got to the point where I almost took my own life. I decided not to because I have the best friends in the world who cared . I still have my moments but I'm not nearly as bad as I was before.

[Prairie Purrs]

I have dysthymia, which is a chronic mild depression. On several occasions I've dealt with major depression. During major depressions I've taken Elavil, Prozac, Effexor combined with trazodone, with probably the best results from the Effexor/trazodone combo. I've also tried talk therapy, but I've never found a therapist who did me the least amount of good (and one made matters worse).

I've had problems with depression for as long as I can remember, way back into childhood, but back in the 1960s no one thought that kids could be depressed. So I was in my 20s before I sought any treatment for it. Perhaps if mental illness hadn't been so stigmatized, my parents would have recognized what was going on and would have gotten me some help. That stigma hasn't entirely gone away, obviously, but I hope more parents are aware that children can suffer from depression and that more kids are getting treatment.

The most frustrating thing about dysthymia is a lack of energy and motivation. To combat it, I try to maintain a reasonably wide range of interests. And the very best medicine I've found is a purring cat on my lap. Fortunately, I have no shortage of purring cats around here.

[Tonya]

I have never heard the term "dysthymia". I'll have to read on that. I don't know what I have exactly because I haven't went further then family doctors. In highschool, I was severly depressed. I took zoloft at the time. When Jaden was born, I was no longer depressed. I guess I felt like I had a reason to be happy. But I always got the "winter blues". Most winters I'd go back on Zoloft, but it always made me feel high. With Zoloft, there were times where I'd be subconsciously thinking "Gosh, I should be really upset right now over this..." The Zoloft wasn't allowing me to feel at all.

Just a few months ago, I realized that my depression was really becoming year-round and really affecting my life. I went on Prozac. For the first time ever, I feel really stable. I don't feel high like Zoloft made me feel, I just feel normal. -Like people should feel. But now, I have insomnia and I feel really sluggish during the day.

I know I should go back to the doctor, but I want to tell her what I'd like to try. -Not have her just randomly throw another pill at me. I'd prefer to decide for myself.

Talking to you all, helps me to know of my options. I would love to hear more about your side effects and whatnot. Thank you all very much for being so open. I know this isn't an easy subject. It is really helpful to know that I am not the only one with depression.

[wolfsoul]

I currently have problems. But it was much worse in the past. Now I have my good days and my bad days. It's hard. I was thinking of getting some medication...I know my doctor can keep it private...but I don't know. Maybe. It gets annoying when your friends ask you "Are you okay?" all the time. I want to scream.

[Fox-Gal]

Years ago I had a problem with depression but mine was from a attack that happened to me, not from a clinical depression so meds where only a cover up for me. Learning to accept what happened to me was really my only way out of it. Of course I still have days where it comes back. Zoloft is to strong plus it is addictive so I don't recomemend it to to many people. If used for long peorids of time it can cause other medical problems. Buspar works better as far as I'm concerned if your deperession is not to bad. It's more mild and easier on the body too. Makes life normal.

My friend has to be tested ever 6 months or so to see if the Zoloft is causing her a problem, so far she has been ok. She does have withdralls for the Zoloft is she skips a day or two without taking them. So I'm not a big fan of Zoloft. She did the prozac too and that was a big mess for her, it was as if she had no emotions at all with it. I could make up a story and tell her that her house was on fire and she just say OK as calm as could be. Not feeling your depression is great but you still want to feel something.

If you think you need to go back to the DR., do it, just ask lots of questions. You want to know all the side affects to any pill he gives you. Ask to be put on a lower dose and slowing work your way up if that dose isn't helping. Every pill effects each person a little different so you might have to go through a few before you find whats right for you. Just my advice for what it's worth.

[todd]

yes I do